SMAC Lobby Barn-Raising

May 31, 2010

Jeff and Carol had two timber-frame barns when the arts center project broke ground in 2005. One of the barns was disassembled and has been waiting in a field to be reborn as the center's greeting area and lobby. A team of highly skilled timber-framers and a few neighbors helped raise the barn once again.

These are some highlight photos of over 500 taken. There are a number of people who worked very hard on this project that are not in this set of images. We will work to include everyone in other documentaries of this event.

The barn restoration and raising was done by Scott Campbell, owner of Maine Mountain Post & Beam, in Brownfield, Maine.

20105-263-8282::One of the barn walls is staged - awaiting a crane to hoist it into position.

20105-263-8275::Many of the pegs carried messages of support for SMAC, Carol and Jeff

20105-263-8277::A 2-day old mortise is ready to hold a 200-year old tenon

20105-263-8288::Scott's adze is used to hew some of the support beams.

20105-263-8289::Jeff stains some of the newer roof supports so they closer match the remaining original supports.

20105-385-4218::Jeff and Dave put points on pegs (or they are expecting a vampire attack this evening)

20105-263-8308::Using a chisel to put points on the pegs.

20105-263-8304::Tim trims a tenon

20105-385-4222::Tim puts the finishing touches on a mortise

20105-263-8325::Scott reviews the plans

20105-263-8342::Scott and Dave review the assembly plans

20105-491-3485::The east wall is ready to be raised.

20105-263-8355::The crane arrives...

20105-263-8357::John operates the crane

20105-491-3495::The east wall is hoisted into position, dropping into its mortise joints.

20105-263-8368::The wall is guided into the joints

20105-263-8370::Andy Buck is ready to do some subtle alignment work

20105-491-3507::Bill watches the wall

20105-491-3508::

20105-263-8377::Scott checks the wall to see that it is plumb

20105-263-8386::

20105-491-3523::With the east wall in place, the interior columns are brought in.

20105-263-8396::The interior columns are then tied to the wall.

20105-263-8407::The posts and beams are drawn into place. They will be held together with wooden pegs and nothing else.

20105-263-8408::Tim uses a hand saw to trim a tenon that isn't fitting perfectly.

20105-491-3531::The next post is lowered into position.

20105-491-3533::

20105-263-8414::Jeff raises a beam into position.

20105-491-3534::Another beam is secured with a peg.

20105-491-3540::Scott works a post into position.

20105-491-3550::A post forming part of the south wall is connected with the beams and supports.

20105-263-8427::Tinkertoys... with an attitude.

20105-263-8431::

20105-491-3565::Many of these beams were first assembled 200 years ago.

20105-491-3579::The west wall rises.

20105-263-8466::Wes works a beam into position.

20105-491-3584::

20105-491-3586::Tim readies a support.

20105-491-3587::Dave is looking for a missing support.. Where is B-4?

20105-491-3594::The north wall now spans the back of the barn. Note the metal ID tags on the older pieces.

20105-263-8474::Bill works on a post

20105-263-8489::Another post is wrangled into position.

20105-263-8492::A post is ready for the cross-beam.

20105-263-8499::A beam is locked into position by hammering a peg into the joint.

20105-263-8509::The work moves up 9 feet into the air.

20105-263-8519::Andy asks the crane operator to adjust how the major beam is being positioned.

20105-491-3653::

20105-491-3660::More messaged pegs are ready to hold the structure together.

20105-263-8542::Wes uses a "beatle" to coax a support into its mortise.

20105-491-3667::Dave and Dan ready a major beam for lowering.

20105-491-3670::Dave works the beam over its tenon...

20105-491-3671::... and then uses the beatle to set the beam into the tenon

20105-491-3687::Another peg is driven home

20105-263-8552::And the walls are vertical

20105-491-3700::Time for a well-deserved lunch break

20105-491-3708::Back to work on the roof supports

20105-491-3710::A new peg holds together a 200-year old hand-carved joint

20105-491-3723::Wes watches as a beam is "flown" to its home

20105-263-8572::The crew works a beam into position.

20105-263-8591::

20105-491-3735::The peak of the north wall required a bit of work to come together.

20105-263-8604::Scott and Andy discuss how to set the pesky beam

20105-491-3743::Andy tries working the beam with a crow bar

20105-491-3749::A come-along is used to winch the beam into position.

20105-491-3750::

20105-491-3759::

20105-491-3761::Dave works on a roof beam

20105-491-3763::Big peg. Big hammer.

20105-491-3764::

20105-491-3769::The roof supports take shape

20105-491-3773::

20105-491-3787::Wes guides more roof supports into position.

20105-491-3791::Andy guides another support.

20105-491-3796::Tim decides to throw the lift brace to the cameraman.

20105-491-3798::Wes works on setting a roof support

20105-263-8647::

20105-491-3803::Another joint is locked into position

20105-491-3804::

20105-491-3812::

20105-491-3817::With the raising completed, Dave hammers the ceremonial "wetting bow" at the peak.

20105-491-3827::Wes, Andy, Dave, and Tim

20105-263-8655::Wes, Andy, Dave, Tim, Scott, Jeff, and Bill

20105-491-3828::Carol and Jeff see their old barn raised for its new life

20105-491-3834::The 200-year old structure is ready for its next 200 years.